What do you get if you combine an electric car, a Powerwall and a solar roof which looks as good as it functions? A ‘seamlessly integrated future’ according to Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. Musk’s mission is not only admirable, it’s also changing the way we use energy both now and for the future.
An aesthetically appealing proposition
On October 28th of this year, Tesla unveiled their stylish new roof tiles which are actually fully functioning solar panels. So why the big deal? Considering the fact that the main concern of installing panels for homeowners revolves around the question of aesthetics, this streamlined innovation is definitely something to get excited about.
Making solar more mainstream
At present, solar technologies are not receiving the widespread merit they so clearly deserve. Part of this problem likely stems from the fact that there are so many conflicting claims available. Cutting through the claptrap can seem like a mammoth task for the uninitiated, especially as Feed-In-Tariff rates prove so variable, changing year on year. Are you really getting a satisfactory return on your initial investment as promised? A little cost/benefit analysis can prove invaluable in this respect. The good news is that the price of panels has continued to decrease, making what was once only in the province of the few virtually attainable for all.
Word of mouth: an effective marketing method
Indeed, we’re often influenced by the people around us far more than we’re likely to admit. Home improvements are a clear example of this herd mentality in action: if you’ve recently had new products installed, chances are that they were installed by a local installer, recommended by someone you know. In fact, in many instances, that someone you know (eg. a neighbour or family friend) is just as likely to have been the installer in question.
Keeping up with the Joneses
When new products hit the market, we’ll be darned if we let ourselves be left behind, especially if our neighbours already seem to have got there before us. Tesla has clearly capitalised on this concept, having created one of the most aesthetically pleasing solar products on the market, that takes the ‘gotta have it’ impulse to a whole new level.
Tesla and SolarCity: a creative collaboration
Like salt and pepper, or tea and a dunkable biscuit, collaboration can work wonders in a corporate context as well. This is very much the case with Tesla and SolarCity. Both businesses are clear promoters of sustainable innovation. If you take the sophisticated technology behind Tesla’s electric cars and combine it with the solar panel innovation expressed in SolarCity’s range of systems then you have a readymade recipe for success in producing the energy friendly inventions of the future. Such seamless integration raises the bar in business to even greater heights.
Tesla and ‘The Halo Effect’
When striving for a successful business, consolidating customer loyalty is crucial. A satisfied customer is one that will return time after time, after time, buying into not only each new innovation produced, but also a company ethos and branding that they both know and respect. Tesla has clearly considered the importance of ‘The Halo Effect’, having gained high scores in terms of customer satisfaction and unmatched brand commitment. Tesla has already gained a significant amount of notoriety for its eco-friendly automobiles and when you consider that a PV system is roughly around the same price range, it’s not too far-fetched to think that their loyal fan base will buy into an even bigger share of the Tesla dream.
A promising future
The future’s definitely bright for Tesla, with the promise of even more energy efficient innovations in the years to come. Indeed, Tesla has already broken the bounds of what’s possible in the renewable energy industry, where today’s dream really does become tomorrow’s reality. So where does Tesla go from here? If claims prove true, then Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, believes that his company’s solar tiles will outstrip the sales of his range of electric cars within the year. And if the significant media interest in Tesla’s solar tiles is anything to go by, such claims are likely to become a very tangible reality.